SPORTS

D'Amato signs

By ALEX SPONSELLER
Posted 12/10/20

By ALEX SPONSELLER Pilgrim will be sending another one of its standout athletes to the Division II level, as senior Madi D'Amato recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball for the University of Bridgeport. D'Amato was one of Pilgrim's

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SPORTS

D'Amato signs

Posted

By ALEX SPONSELLER Pilgrim will be sending another one of its standout athletes to the Division II level, as senior Madi D’Amato recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball for the University of Bridgeport.

D’Amato was one of Pilgrim’s key pieces in its last two playoff appearances, and was named to the Rhode Island Softball Coaches Association’s All-Division team her sophomore year. She was also given the Alice Sullivan Award in soccer this past season.

“It’s an amazing feeling, I’ve worked so hard ever since I was younger. I have no one else to thank other than my family, my friends and coaches that have pushed me. I obviously have a lot more work to do, this is just a stepping stone into the next chapter, it’s very exciting,” said D’Amato of her signing.

Things were a bit uncertain regarding her eventual college career due to the ongoing pandemic. Between limited interaction with college programs and new guidelines placed on recruiting, D’Amato was unsure of what would come this fall.

“I was very excited to be a part of the college recruitment process, but my high school season was cancelled and many of my travel summer tournaments were cancelled. Going into my senior year without many scouts looking at me was discouraging, but I kept working hard and going to camps and that is when I met (Bridgewater) Coach (Dawn) Stearns.”

D’Amato added: “Coach Stearns, I enjoyed watching her players interact and they respected her. I wanted to be a part of that environment and that program. I later visited the school, the school is beautiful. I also met some of the players and they were all very nice.”

Making the jump from high school to college is always a challenge, especially when moving to a Division II program. D’Amato is ready to compete and feels that hard work will determine her success at the next level.

“Competition-wise, I have been fortunate enough to travel the country to play the sport with Warwick North where my father and grandfather grew up playing. I also played with my travel team Rhode Island Bombers, so I am used to being away and playing tough competition. I don’t think it is going to be as much about the competition level as much as it is going to be about the work that people put in and having players that want to be there,” said D’Amato.

She looks forward to enjoying her final high school and travel seasons in the coming months and getting one last ride in with her coaches and teammates.

“I just have to go out there and have fun. I have all the fundamentals down, it’s just a matter of knowing the love I have for the game and how far it has gotten me,” said D’Amato. “The time I have before college will be about having fun, working hard and enjoying the time that I have with my teammates in high school and travel.”

D'Amato, softball, sports

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